Tampon.



A. A. ELLIS.

TAMPON.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1911.

1,280,979. Patented Oct. s, 1918.

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AVA'RD'A'; ELLIS; OF DENVER, COLOR/ADO.-

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Specification of Iletters 1 7a tent.

Patented oer. 8,1918.

Application filed June 12, 1917. Serial No. 174,211.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AVARD A. ELLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tampons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tampons, the object being to facilitate the application of medicine of any desired character to the vagina and uterus. The device consists of a holder and a quantity of absorbent material to which the holder is applied, the absorbent material being adapted to retain the medicine in liquid form, while the holder retains such material in proper position and form to facilitate the introduction of the absorbent material carrying the medicine. Hence the tampon is composed of the two articles, viz., the absorbent material and the holder. The holder is composed of frail or small stranded Wire, the wire being so small that it is practically embedded in the absorbent material, and, therefore, does not extend therefrom sufficiently to injure the parts with which the tampon comes in contact.

Having briefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wire holder forming an element of the tampon.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, or a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the holder, or a view looking in the direction of arrow 3 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View of the complete device. a portion of the absorbent material being cut away to expose the wire holder of the device.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views:

Let the numeral 5 designate the holder; 6 the absorbent material, and 9 a piece of tape or muslin which is connected with the holder to facilitate the removal of the device when desired. The holder as heretofore indicated is composed of small spring wire bent into such shape as to grasp the absorbent material and retain the latter in proper form as approximately in the form of a small ball. This holder as illustrated in the drawing, consists of two loops 7 which are connected by two coils S which are shaped to give the loops 7 the necessary tension for holding the ball of absorbent n'lateria-l in place, the tension being also such as to cause the holder to embed itself in the absorbent material so that the holder is practically concealed as will be understood from Fig. 4, assuming that a portion of the absorbent material were not cut away in that view. The two spring loops 7 are bent outwardly from the coils 8 and extend thence upwardly therefrom, their upper extremities or their extremities remote from the coils 8 approaching each other for the purpose stated. This device is made from a single piece of wire and the extremities of this piece are nicely brazed so as to form a perfectly smooth article. It is, of course, important that the holder should be devoid of roughness so that in the event that any part of it does come in contact with the adjacent tissues no injury will result.

The tape 9 is of suilicient length to perform the function required, its inner extremity being tied to one of the coil portions 8 of the holder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A tampon composed of a quantity of absorbent material and a holder composed of spring wire bent to form relatively short central coils, and loops extending beyond the coils to facilitate the holding of the absorbent material in place.

2. In a tampon, the combination of a holder, a quantity of absorbent material, and a tape, the holder consisting of wire bent to form a central relatively short spring member, and relatively long loops extending beyond the spring member, their free extremities approaching each other whereby the holder is adapted to firmly grasp the absorbent material, the tape being connected with the holder for the purpose set forth.

3. In a tampon, the combination of an absorbent body and a form for supporting the same, the said form being provided With loops disposed toward each other for the purpose set forth. I

4:. A tampon composed of a quantity of absorbent material and a holder composed of a member shaped to form coils and a portionextending beyond the coils to facilitate the holding of the absorbent material in place.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 5. A tampon composed of a quantity of absorbent material and a holder composed of a member shaped to form coils and a portion having a rounded extremity extending beyond the ooilsto facilitate the holding of the absorbent material in place. In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

AVARD A. ELLlS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

